Diverticulitis

At the Sydney Colorectal Clinic, we are specialists in acute and chronic diverticulitis and the treatment options available, which include both conservative and operative approaches.

Dr Hamish Urquhart has a special interest in complex and recurrent diverticular disease and approaches the investigation and treatment of the condition holistically.

Our clinic employs a multidisciplinary approach to managing diverticulitis to ensure our patients have the best possible outcome. With a team consisting of specialists in colorectal surgery, gastroenterology, general and perioperative medicine, and patient coordinators, we are dedicated to providing evidence-based treatment plans designed to maximise success while prioritising your comfort, quality of life, and recovery.

Diverticulitis Explained

Diverticular disease, or diverticulitis, is a very common condition with approximately 60% of the population at the age of 60 having the condition known as diverticulosis. Diverticulosis refers to outpouchings or pockets of the large bowel, which occur at a weak anatomical point on the muscular covering of the colon. This allows the inner lining to bulge out. The bowel may have many small or large-sized diverticulums. A diverticulum can become infected or inflamed (which is when we use the term diverticulitis). 20% of patients with diverticulum will develop diverticulitis at some stage.

The treatment of diverticulitis is constantly changing. Occasionally in mild episodes, the inflammation settles by itself over a few days. Patients should keep their fluids up, take simple analgesia and rest up. If patients can have anti-inflammatories, these often help (so long as they are only taken for a short period). Antibiotics are typically used in worse cases of diverticulitis.

Some cases of diverticulitis require hospital admission. In these circumstances, Dr Urquhart will monitor inflammatory markers with blood tests and often arrange imaging of the abdomen through a CT scan or MRI. The treatment of active diverticulitis cases often requires intravenous antibiotics, an IV drip to keep your fluids levels up, and bowel rest.

Following an episode, you may need to initially be on a low-fibre diet (low roughage) to limit the material passing through the colon. Longer term, once an episode has fully settled, avoiding constipation and maintaining a high-fibre diet is beneficial. Dr Urquhart can help with nutritional advice and referral to a dietician.

In cases where the inflammation is severe or recurrent, sometimes surgery is needed. Dr Urquhart specialises in surgery for Diverticulitis.

If a patient experiences recurrent diverticulitis, constantly requires antibiotics updates for flare-ups or doesn’t fully recover from an episode of diverticulitis, surgery can often help. In this, often through a keyhole-assisted technique, surgically resecting or removing the chronically inflamed segment of the intestine can help significantly. Dr Urquhart can discuss all the different investigations and treatment options in depth during your consultation. It is quite a complex condition, and Dr Urquhart will thoroughly explain the options for treatment.

Patient Resources
Diverticular Disease
Anterior Resection - Post Op
Care Team

Dr Hamish Urquhart

Director of the Sydney Colorectal Clinic & Specialist Colorectal Surgeon

Dr Hugh Giddings

Dr Hugh Giddings

Specialist Colorectal & General Surgeon

Dr Claire Keenan

Dr Claire Keenan

General Medicine & Perioperative Physician

A/Prof Craig Haifer

A/Prof Craig Haifer

Gastroenterologist & Hepatologist

Dr Ian Lockart

Dr Ian Lockart

Gastroenterologist & Hepatologist

Aman

Aman Kaur

Practice Nurse

Meet Dr Hamish Urquhart

Dr Hamish Urquhart is a leading specialist colorectal surgeon who is dedicated to providing evidence-based and compassionate care. With advanced surgical skills and a patient-focused approach, he ensures the best possible outcome for every individual.

Learn more about Dr Urquhart
General Medicine &
Peri-Operative Care

At Sydney Colorectal Clinic, expert medical support is integral to safe and successful treatment.

Dr Claire Keenan, our General Medicine and Peri-Operative Physician, works alongside our team to optimise patient health before, during, and after surgery. Dr Keenan specialises in managing pre-existing medical conditions, minimising surgical risks, and supporting post-operative recovery. By ensuring patients are in the best possible condition for treatment, she plays a vital role in improving outcomes and enhancing overall well-being throughout the care journey.
Memberships and Affiliations

Contact our Team

Multidisciplinary Expertise

A team of specialists ensuring optimal care.

Personalised Treatment Plans

Tailored therapies to meet individual needs.

Comprehensive Patient Support

Guidance through every stage of treatment.

Dr Hamish Urquhart

CSSANZ FRACS MBBS (hons), BEngineering Mech/Biomedical (hons)

Dr Hamish Urquhart is a specialist colorectal surgeon, with subspecialty training in proctology, complex colorectal cancer, pelvic floor disorders and inflammatory bowel disease. He is the director of the Sydney Colorectal Clinic and is dedicated to the treatment and management of complex colorectal conditions. Dr Urquhart believes in employing a holistic, multidisciplinary approach to Colorectal Surgery, and works closely with other disciplines to coordinate patient care

Dr Urquhart completed his postgraduate medical degree in 2008 from the University of Sydney, graduating with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (honours). He completed his internship and residency training at the Royal North Shore Hospital and subsequently commenced general surgical training in 2010. Dr Urquhart was awarded his Fellowship (FRACS) in General Surgery by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 2015. In 2016, he began four additional subspeciality colorectal fellowship years focusing on the latest minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques, robotic surgery and endoscopy. The last 2 of these fellowship years were with the highly regarded Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSSANZ) training program where he completed advanced colorectal surgical techniques.

Dr Urquhart is also a qualified biomedical mechanical engineer, graduating with first class honours from the University of Sydney in 2004. He was the 2005 recipient of the Engineers Australia Excellence Award for Innovation, developing several patents for biomedical devices.

Dr Urquhart is the Director of Surgical Training at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney. He is also a member of the NSW training board in General Surgery. Dr Urquhart has published multiple peer-reviewed journal articles and has presented at conferences in Australia, North America, Italy and the United Kingdom on Colorectal Surgery. He also has a passion for teaching and has affiliations with the University of New South Wales and the University of Notre Dame.

Dr Hugh Giddings

Dr Hugh Giddings

CSSANZ FRACS MBBS (hons) PhD

Dr Hugh Giddings is a specialist colorectal and general surgeon with subspecialty training in colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, pelvic floor disorders, endometriosis surgery, and proctology. He performs open, laparoscopic, robotic and endoscopic procedures to treat a wide range of colorectal and general surgical conditions.

Dr Giddings received his postgraduate medical degree from the University of Sydney in 2010 (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery with honours). He went on to complete his general surgical fellowship (FRACS) with the Royal Australia College of Surgeons in 2020, including several years training at St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney.

Following this Dr Giddings was the Notaras Scholar through the Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia and New Zealand, with clinical posts at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney where he trained in advanced oncological colorectal surgery, and The Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital specialising in minimally invasive techniques. An additional honorary fellowship was undertaken at St Mark’s Hospital in the United Kingdom with a focus on the surgical management of inflammatory bowel disease, and complex proctology.

Dr Giddings has a strong research background having presented both nationally and internationally, and was awarded the Royal Australian College of Surgeons Mark Killingback research prize in 2025. He recently completed his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) thesis looking at the trends in surgical workload, outcomes following surgery, and the quality of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) surgical care in Australia. Dr Giddings continues to be involved in collaborative research and is a member of the Australia and New Zealand inflammatory bowel disease consortium, and the scientific, medical, and quality of care advisory committee for Crohn’s Colitis Australia.

Dr Claire Keenan
Dr Claire Keenan

BHB MBChB FRACP

Dr Keenan is a specialist general medicine and perioperative physician. As a specialist physician she will assess you as a whole and address how your medical conditions interconnect, ensuring that you get the best outcomes in your care.

Dr Keenan completed her specialist training across New Zealand and Australia and has subspecialty expertise in peri-operative medicine, obstetric medicine, and managing patients with multiple medical conditions with complex needs.

Dr Keenan takes a holistic view and recognises the importance of addressing the medical conditions in parallel with your lifestyle, diet and general health goals.  She is a big advocate of multidisciplinary care and works closely with surgeons, physicians, nursing staff and allied health clinicians and will support your local doctor in your ongoing management.

In addition to her work at St Vincent’s, Dr Keenan is an academic at the University of New South Wales where she teaches the next generation of aspiring doctors.

A/Prof Craig Haifer

A/Prof Craig Haifer

MBBS (Hons), PhD, FRACP

Dr Craig Haifer is an experienced gastroenterologist working across St Vincent’s Private and Public Hospital and an Associate Professor of Medicine though the University of New South Wales.

Dr Haifer is an expert in the management of patients with inflammatory bowel disease, IBS other gastrointestinal issues and takes a comprehensive holistic approach in managing these conditions. He recognises and values the importance of addressing diet and lifestyle to enhance a person’s microbiome and combines this with the most up to date medical advances to ensure his patients get the best outcomes of their conditions.

In addition to traditional gastroscopy and colonoscopy, Dr Haifer incorporates bowel ultrasounds into his treatment regimens which is an entirely non-invasive way to monitor bowel inflammation.

In addition to his clinical work, Dr Haifer heads a team of researchers across UNSW and St Vincent’s examining all aspects of the gut microbiome and it’s role in the development of various diseases, including IBD and various types of cancer. His work has defined the landscape of using techniques such as FMT and other pre/probiotics to improve the microbiome and he coordinates several research projects in the space.

Dr Haifer consults at St Vincent’s Clinic as well in Bondi Junction and Wagga Wagga; and performs gastroscopy, colonoscopy and capsule endoscopy through Double Bay Day Hospital, St Vincent’s Private and Public Hospitals and Riverina Day Surgery.

Dr Ian Lockart
Dr Ian Lockart

MBBS (Hons), FRACP, PhD

Dr Ian Lockart earned his medical degree at the University of New South Wales, graduating with honours in 2011. He went on to complete his physician and specialist training at Prince of Wales and St Vincent’s Hospitals in Sydney. He is a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and has been awarded the Specialty Certificate in Gastroenterology from the Royal Colleges of Physicians in the United Kingdom. He completed a Doctor of Philosophy through the University of New South Wales, and is a Clinical Associate Lecturer, involved in the education and assessment of doctors-in-training. He is accredited for gastroscopy and colonoscopy by the Conjoint Committee for the Recognition of Training in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

Dr Lockart is committed to delivering high-quality diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and has vast experience managing both simple and complex conditions.

Dr Lockart welcomes all patients, with access to endoscopic facilities at both St Vincent’s Public and Private Hospitals. He holds a staff specialist appointment at St Vincent’s Hospital, where he oversees general gastroenterology and liver disease clinics. For procedures performed at St Vincent’s Private Hospital, Dr Lockart is registered as a ‘no-gap’ provider, meaning there are no additional costs for patients with eligible private health insurance.

Dr Lockart looks forward to being involved in your care.

Aman
Aman Kaur

Aman is one of our practice nurses. Our practice nurses monitor patient care throughout the pre-operative and post-operative periods and are available to provide support, advice and reviews. Aman completed a Bachelor of Nursing through the University of Newcastle and has trained in peri-operative practice at St Vincent’s Private Hospital for seven years, specialising in colorectal and general surgery. Throughout this time, she has built a strong professional and interpersonal relationship with Dr Urquhart and Isabelle. Aman is currently studying her Master’s in peri-operative practice and aims to be a surgical assist alongside Dr Urquhart in theatre. 

Originally from the central coast, Aman grew up appreciating a coastal lifestyle. Outside of work, Aman enjoys a very active life that involves endurance running, competes both in triathlons and marathons. Aman also loves spending time with her family and friends, she is a self-confessed fun aunty to her two nephews. She also loves to read, explore new places and new cafes.